Chereads / The Stars That Were Ours / Chapter 12 - Chapter 11: How Can I?

Chapter 12 - Chapter 11: How Can I?

Chanyeol got out of the car first and he took a moment to stretch everything out. The van was large compared to most Van's, but it was still cramped for someone of his size. He was the type who had to slouch down so as not to hit his head and yet also keep his knees bent at the same time. Because he couldn't straighten them even a little due to how long his legs were and how short the space between seats was.

Baekhyun stepped out very carefully the coat wrapped around him tightly, he held it up in front of him a little. So the top of his sneakers peaked out from beneath almost like a gown and Chanyeol had to stifle a laugh.

Daehyun popped out and started towards the back. The back lid opened automatically and she started to pile herself with bags of fan gifts and various other stuff. Chanyeol's eyes widened and he stepped forward to help her, but Baekhyun was already there and grabbing stuff. He watched Baekhyun and Daehyun discuss how to bring stuff up as if it was the most natural thing and again he rubbed the back of his head.

'Cute, the stuck up prince from earlier is nowhere to be found. Huh?' He hid his smile behind a hand. All he could see in front of him was this adorable guy being the perfect gentleman. The two started to argue over which way to carry everything was going to be best since they had enough to make one of them come back and make a second trip.

"Here, let me grab some too, there is far too much for both of you to carry." They both turned around surprise on their face.

"Wait, did you guys actually forget I was here?" Chanyeol stared at them with disbelief while throwing his backpack over his shoulder.

Baekhyun flushed and Daehyun smiled cheekily while staring at Chanyeol.

"Impossible to forget..." She whispered under her breath.

"What?" Chanyeol asked, not quite hearing it.

"Sorry, we do this almost every night. It is like a habit, I forgot there was someone with big strong muscles we could ask for help." Daehyun said cheekily.

"Since you don't mind, here take these." She said, handing a box filled with multiple gift bags and boxes, her eyes glittering happily. Chanyeol grabbed it adjusting to the surprising weight of it. It was a decent sized box, large but not as bad.

The box in Baekhyun's hands despite being slightly smaller than his was, looked overly large in Baekhyun's arms. The box was big enough that he could barely bend his arms, because if he did the top of the box would cover his cute little nose. Chanyeol sucked in a snicker.

"Here, let me take your box too. Mine isn't that heavy. How about you take all the big bags that wouldn't fit into a box." He ordered Baekhyun Politely leaving no room for him to disagree.

Baekhyun looked put off for a moment, then obliged. He plopped the box on top of the one Chanyeol was already holding with a bit of an attitude, then scooped up the rest of the bags while pouting a little.

Chanyeol stared at him and realized he might have hurt Baekhyun's pride a little.

"Awe, I am not trying to be patronizing, I know you won't get hurt or anything, we just need..." He paused. Baekhyun turned hands full of all the leftover giant bags, there had to be like fifteen to twenty of them. Chanyeol smiled.

"I need you to lead the way, since, I have... never been to your apartment before. And it's so late right now if I start stumbling off in some random direction people are going to think there is some sort of pervert." He said gently, his voice taking on a teasing lilt.

Daehyun turned her head, but it was still clear she was laughing.

Baekhyun's eyes widened in surprise. "Yah, don't make it sound so dirty!" he turned away from the car, then looked back and nodded with a fortified expression.

"Right, good point... Follow me..."

"Anywhere's" Chanyeol stated cheekily.

Baekhyun turned away, ignoring Chanyeol's teasing and headed off towards the apartment and the waiting desk clerk. The man held the door open for them with a kind, warm smile on his face and all four of them entered the private lobby at the back of the apartment building together. The man speed-walked past them, then held the elevator door open, and they all got in, the man pressed the button for Baekhyun's floor and then let the door go with a small bow.

Chanyeol watched the little light around the eighth and smiled jotting down mentally that it was the eighth floor just in case he ever got lost since he knew he had a poor sense of direction.

He was glad they didn't have to take the stairs, that would have been hard despite his earlier bravery they were actually a bit heavy and with both, even his arms were overextended too.

The moment the doors opened Daehyun turned down the hall a set of keys dangling from her semi free hand and the two of them trailed behind slower. Chanyeol because his arms were actually starting to get a little tired.

But he hid his eyes behind the boxes once he noticed Baekhyun was just going slow to keep pace with him. Baekhyun reached out and touched Chanyeol's elbow leading him gently.

He knew his ears were probably a little red and he wished he didn't need to look to see where he was going. Because he was pretty sure his expression was about to give him away.

He heard more than he saw the keys slid into the lock and Daehyun open the door.

"Here, the door is here," Baekhyun said and grabbed his elbow gently and helped him through the door.

"Don't worry about your shoes Chanyeol you can't even see right now." Baekhyun said when he noticed Chanyeol trying to balance on one foot while attempting to pull his foot out of the other.

He reached out and grabbed Chanyeol's bicep tightly steadying him to stop the almost unsettling dance he was doing, that looked like it was about to upheaval everything.

Chanyeol caught his balance with Baekhyun's help.

"Thanks," he said and they walked out of the small entrance and directly into the kitchen and small living room together. Daehyun dropped all of her stuff down onto the countertops and Baekhyun led Chanyeol to the couch and then helped him lower the boxes down without anything, dropping. The moment Chanyeol's hands were free he reached out immediately for the bags Baekhyun was holding.

Baekhyun recoiled in disdain, his features growing sharp and annoyed. His eyes flashed.

"Yah, I am not a child! I do this every day without you around." Baekhyun snapped. Then threw everything down on the ground where he stood, turned and walked away quickly to the bedroom.

Daehyun chuckled.

"Now that's more like him."

"Huh?" Chanyeol commented stupidly watching Baekhyun disappear, and the door at the end of the halls slam loudly.

'So that's his room...' He turned reluctantly, despite the fact that he was just watching the empty space where Baekhyun had been.

"Well, normally after twelve days of traveling straight and with back to back performances he gets pretty Owly, but like all the time twenty-four-seven, not in spurts like this. But he has been in a pretty great mood since earlier tonight." She smiled.

"I know you are probably thinking, but he snapped and shoved you! And he had a bad stage performance, and multiple things went wrong today too... How can you say this?"

"And you would be right... Except when you think about it, he responded in the same way any tired, annoyed, overworked person would."

"Which is actually pretty good for him, since normally he can be a downright devil to deal with when he is overworked like this."

"But eh, who can blame him. I know how tired I get with his schedule and all I do is follow him around some days... And remind him to do stuff. I am like a walking alarm clock and he still makes sure I am better-taken care of than anyone." Her gaze softened and she stared at the closed bedroom door.

"He is a surly little devil sometimes, but he sure earns those moments. So try and remember this in the future okay! I can take a little yelling, and you can take a tantrum or two right." She added cheerfully.

"But still, he is in a great mood tonight, and I can see why."

"Get some rest, he probably won't be back out till morning." She turned to leave, then stopped as she put on her last shoe.

"Ah, right! The second bedroom is actually his recording studio so there are only his bed and the couch available..."

"I suppose... you could..." Daehyun's eyes twinkled mischievously.

"I'll take the couch!" Chanyeol suggested quickly.

Daehyun pouted.

"Whatever you want."

"Have a good night Chanyeol, sleep well." She said then bent down and picked up her purse, she must have left there before and was out the door a happy smile on her face.

Chanyeol walked around to the front of the big black leather couch and plopped into it. The seat fizzled a little as the air squeezed out and he fell to the side all his energy drained. He raised his hands onto his head and rested his palms facing up to the ceiling the backs of his hands against his forehead.

'What a crazy few days it had been.' He closed his eyes just meaning to relax. But the couch was comfy and the room smelled nice, like mint and fresh flowers. And his eyes grew heavy and his breathing deep.

Something soft tickled the back of his hand and he stretched lazily, his hands encountered something warm. 'And soft, or was it firm?' He trailed his hand up his fingertips tracing slowly across.

A yelp made his eyes fly open it took a moment for his eyes to grow accustomed to how dark the room had become. He must have dozed off for a bit there. His eyes focused finally, the sleep escaping them as he realized Baekhyun's big eyes were staring into his alarmed.

His eyes slowly followed his own arm to where it was pressed against Baekhyun's naked chest.

"Ahhhh...." He exclaimed sleepily, just realizing what he had done.

"I just wanted to make sure you were sleeping okay since you are so big and the couch is so small." Baekhyun said his voice almost twice as loud as it normally was.

Chanyeol stared with interest at Baekhyun's chest, realizing the small slips and bumps had been the muscles of Baekhyun's stomach.

"There are extra blankets and pillows in the hall closet." Baekhyun squeaked out, his face flushing and then fled back to the bedroom as fast as he could.

Chanyeol sat up quickly, "Wait! Baekhyun I didn't mean to!" He exclaimed, his voice growing quieter with every word.

'Ah, what is the point he is not coming back out here now...' Chanyeol thought sadly, and fell back into his imprint on the couch.

Chanyeol lowered his hand slowly and stared at his palm with fascination.

'That is the first time I have ever touched another person's naked body... He's so warm.'

He pressed his hand to cover his face, closed his eyes and sighed.

'I want to get closer to you...'

'But I don't know if I can.'